Lone parents could face cuts to their benefits under government plans to get more of them into work.
Lone parents are to be encouraged to return to work under government plans to alleviate child poverty.
Currently, single parents receive payments until their youngest child is 16. Ministers want to cut that to 11.
Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton says he does not want lone parents moving "seamlessly" on to incapacity benefit once their child benefits stop.
Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton says this will stop lone parents moving "seamlessly" on to incapacity benefit once their child-related benefits stop.
However, he said there was "absolutely no case for cutting lone parent benefits" as it would harm children.
Single parents receive payments until their youngest child is 16. Ministers are thought to favour cutting it to 11.
But charity One Parent Families said many of those affected by the plans were caring for disabled children.
But charity One Parent Families said many of those affected by the plans were caring for disabled children.
The Office for National Statistics estimates there are 1.69m lone parents with dependent children in the UK.
The Office for National Statistics estimates there are 1.69m lone parents with dependent children in the UK.
In a speech later, Mr Hutton will say Britain has one of the lowest levels of lone parent employment in Europe, with almost half on benefits.
In a speech, Mr Hutton said Britain has one of the lowest levels of lone parent employment in Europe, with almost half on benefits.
'Child poverty'
'Child poverty'
He will say he has evidence that up to a third of lone parents move on to incapacity benefit once their child benefit ends as their youngest reaches 16.
He said he has evidence that up to a third of lone parents move on to incapacity benefit once their child benefit ends as their youngest reaches 16.
Mr Hutton has already unveiled plans to to get one million incapacity benefit claimants back into work over the next 10 years, saving £7bn a year.
Mr Hutton has already unveiled plans to to get one million incapacity benefit claimants back into work over the next 10 years, saving £7bn a year.
I think we need to give parents encouragement and support to take well-paid jobs if they are able to do that but to give them the choice Chris Pond, One Parent Families
I think we need to give parents encouragement and support to take well-paid jobs if they are able to do that but to give them the choice Chris Pond, One Parent Families
In a speech later, he will say: "If a person has been out of the labour market for 10 or 15 years, during which time they have had little help or support, they are obviously going to find it difficult moving straight from Income Support on to Job Seekers Allowance and being required to actively seek work.
He said: "If a person has been out of the labour market for 10 or 15 years, during which time they have had little help or support, they are obviously going to find it difficult moving straight from Income Support on to Job Seekers Allowance and being required to actively seek work.
"If we are to eradicate child poverty, then I believe we will also need to go further in challenging existing assumptions about who - and at what point - someone should be in work.
"If we are to eradicate child poverty, then I believe we will also need to go further in challenging existing assumptions about who - and at what point - someone should be in work.
"We also know the difference that helping lone parents into work can make. A significant proportion of our progress so far in tackling child poverty is due to helping lone parents move into work.
"We also know the difference that helping lone parents into work can make. A significant proportion of our progress so far in tackling child poverty is due to helping lone parents move into work.
"Our reforms to childcare will be one crucial part of breaking down the barriers to work and helping lone parents to stay in work for longer."
"Our reforms to childcare will be one crucial part of breaking down the barriers to work and helping lone parents to stay in work for longer."
'Choice'
'Choice'
He says that in countries with highly regarded welfare systems such as Sweden and Denmark, up to 80% of lone parents are in work. In Britain, just 56.5% of lone parents are in work.
He said that in countries with highly regarded welfare systems such as Sweden and Denmark, up to 80% of lone parents are in work. In Britain, just 56.5% of lone parents are in work.
But any measure affecting lone parents could prove controversial among Labour MPs.
But any measure affecting lone parents could prove controversial among Labour MPs.
One of the biggest revolts early on in Labour's rule came in 1997 when 47 MPs voted against cuts in lone parent benefit.
One of the biggest revolts early on in Labour's rule came in 1997 when 47 MPs voted against cuts in lone parent benefit.
Chris Pond, chief executive of the charity One Parent Families, said: "I think we need to give parents encouragement and support to take well-paid jobs if they are able to do that but to give them the choice."
Chris Pond, chief executive of the charity One Parent Families, said: "I think we need to give parents encouragement and support to take well-paid jobs if they are able to do that but to give them the choice."
'Inappropriate'
'Inappropriate'
He said 66% of lone parents with a youngest child aged between 11 and 16 were already in work and the government's target was 70%, "so this isn't going to take you very far".
He said 66% of lone parents with a youngest child aged between 11 and 16 were already in work and the government's target was 70%, "so this isn't going to take you very far".
A quarter of the parents that would be affected were caring for a disabled child, Mr Pond added.
A quarter of the parents that would be affected were caring for a disabled child, Mr Pond added.
"So in those circumstances it may be inappropriate to force the lone parent to take a job which means they're not able to fulfil the caring role.
"So in those circumstances it may be inappropriate to force the lone parent to take a job which means they're not able to fulfil the caring role.
"And we may all pay a heavy price if parents of teenagers who are going through a difficult time, just going into the secondary school phase and into exams, are not given the support they need in lone parent families," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"And we may all pay a heavy price if parents of teenagers who are going through a difficult time, just going into the secondary school phase and into exams, are not given the support they need in lone parent families," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Are you a lone parent? Are you worried your benefits could be cut? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
Are you a lone parent? Are you worried your benefits could be cut? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
